Vitamin D Deficiency and Atopic Dermatitis: Consider Disease, Race, and Body Mass.
Journal:
Skinmed
PMID:
29282177
Abstract
Vitamin D deficiency causes rickets, but has been associated with various diseases, including atopic dermatitis (AD). This study analyzes serum vitamin D in pediatric medical center patients with AD and potential confounding factors. At Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, charts of 665 children with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels taken between 2009 and 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Defining vitamin D deficiency as <20 ng/mL, neither average 25-hydroxyvitamin D nor deficiency prevalence varied among disease groups, except for cystic fibrosis (CF), which demonstrated significantly higher average vitamin D and lower deficiency prevalence. Children with AD had the lowest prevalence of vitamin D sufficiency, without significant association with disease severity. No seasonal variation was detected. Strong correlations were observed between 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, body mass index (BMI), and race. Our data showed no strong association between vitamin D levels and AD or AD severity. A strong association was noted between skin type and BMI. The lower prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among children with CF may be explained by lighter skin and lower BMI. A high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency as currently defined among children with dark skin and high BMI suggests a need to reevaluate normal vitamin D levels in these populations.
Authors
Keywords
Adolescent
Asian
Black or African American
Body Mass Index
Child
Child, Preschool
Cystic Fibrosis
Dermatitis, Atopic
Female
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Male
Prevalence
Racial Groups
Retrospective Studies
Severity of Illness Index
Skin Pigmentation
United States
Vitamin D
Vitamin D Deficiency
White People
Young Adult